The Ford Barn

rheltzel · 12-29-2013, 11:12 PM

Does anyone know if Fenton headers will fit on a '35 with stock steering box? I wrote to Speedway and asked, but got gibberish in response. I suspect the answer is they won't, but would like to know if anyone has successfully installed them.

JM 35 Sedan · 12-30-2013, 12:41 AM

They did not clear the steering box on my '35 tudor sedan without some material removal in a couple of places on the header and a little off of the steering box casting. If I were doing headers now I would use Red's tubular headers. JMO

rheltzel · 12-30-2013, 09:34 AM

Thanks, John. That's what I thought, but it's nice to have it confirmed.

flat-v8 · 12-31-2013, 08:39 AM

Not sure about the '35 engine, but I did get them to fit on a 59A motor, it was tight and had to grind off a little to clear the stock steering box, did not shim the motor, was worth it because they sound great!

Ball and Chain · 01-10-2014, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flat-v8

Not sure about the '35 engine, but I did get them to fit on a 59A motor, it was tight and had to grind off a little to clear the stock steering box, did not shim the motor, was worth it because they sound great!

Same here

Uptown83 · 01-10-2014, 05:47 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I bought the speedway cheap-o's because I knew I would be cutting these things up. 8AB in a 35

rheltzel · 01-10-2014, 06:42 PM

They look great, too! About how much did you have to grind?

rheltzel · 01-10-2014, 06:54 PM

Flat-V8, would it be possible for you to post a close up photo showing where the header snakes around the steering gear?

JonC · 01-11-2014, 08:59 PM

I put them on a 36, as I remember I had one side flange ground down about a 1/8 inch thinner, and shimmed the engine mount up about a 1/8th on that side as well. I was concerned about how close they were to the steering box but (heat issues) it never was a problem. Painted them with many coats of high temp. coatings but thet rusted very fast and to be honest I should have just used the stock manifolds.

tubman · 01-11-2014, 09:54 PM

I put a set on an 8BA in a '36 coupe that also had a '37 steering box. It took a little grinding, but they fit fine and I never had any problems. IIRC, the '37 steering provided a little more room than the stock '36 steering. It was an upgrade to the steering as well.

flat-v8 · 01-12-2014, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rheltzel

Flat-V8, would it be possible for you to post a close up photo showing where the header snakes around the steering gear?

Yeah sure! I'm gonna go for a cruse this morning, (Daughter wants donuts) so good excuse to go to town. I'll take a close up picture of the Fenton bend.

flat-v8 · 01-12-2014, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rheltzel

Flat-V8, would it be possible for you to post a close up photo showing where the header snakes around the steering gear?

Fenton cast headers on a 59A w\'38 steering box pics.

rheltzel · 01-12-2014, 01:00 PM

Great photos, flat-v8. I really appreciate it!!!!!!!!

FL&WVMIKE · 03-18-2014, 04:46 PM

MOST definately, put the headers on After you install the engine ! Why torture yourself ?
MIKE (mikeburch)

rg130 · 03-18-2014, 08:52 PM

I put Fenton Headers on a stock 37 Ford 221 Flathead. No problem with steering box, but had to bend the dip stick tube.

hotcoupe · 03-19-2014, 12:03 PM

i put a set of Fentons on my `37 pikem`up, and the headers interfered slightly with the steering box. my solution was to mill .080" off the mounting face of the headers, clears the steering box just fine.
tom

Admiral · 03-19-2014, 02:48 PM

Why don't they just make the headers FIT as advertised? Shimming and grinding is pretty ridiculous to get a brand-new item to work properly. If I was spending 300 bucks on headers they better damn well work right. I briefly considered Fenton as I like the idea of cast-iron manifolds, but all this bullroar turned me off so I went with Red's. The ceramic coating is GORGEOUS -- looks like chrome -- and they couldn't fit better. A+ product.

rheltzel · 03-19-2014, 06:48 PM

I'm with you, Admiral. If the fix is to grind the flanges down, why doesn't Fenton just make them that way? I've decided to go with Red's, since everyone says they fit fine and are a great product.

My new motor is at Costa Mesa Automotive R & D being built...supposed to be done in about a month.

12-29-2013, 11:12 PM	#1
rheltzel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 368	Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 Does anyone know if Fenton headers will fit on a '35 with stock steering box? I wrote to Speedway and asked, but got gibberish in response. I suspect the answer is they won't, but would like to know if anyone has successfully installed them.

12-30-2013, 12:41 AM	#2
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 They did not clear the steering box on my '35 tudor sedan without some material removal in a couple of places on the header and a little off of the steering box casting. If I were doing headers now I would use Red's tubular headers. JMO __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

12-30-2013, 09:34 AM	#3
rheltzel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 368	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 Thanks, John. That's what I thought, but it's nice to have it confirmed.

01-10-2014, 05:47 PM	#6
Uptown83 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NM Posts: 82	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I bought the speedway cheap-o's because I knew I would be cutting these things up. 8AB in a 35

01-10-2014, 06:42 PM	#7
rheltzel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 368	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 They look great, too! About how much did you have to grind?

01-10-2014, 06:54 PM	#8
rheltzel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 368	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 Flat-V8, would it be possible for you to post a close up photo showing where the header snakes around the steering gear?

01-11-2014, 08:59 PM	#9
JonC Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Central NY Posts: 629	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 I put them on a 36, as I remember I had one side flange ground down about a 1/8 inch thinner, and shimmed the engine mount up about a 1/8th on that side as well. I was concerned about how close they were to the steering box but (heat issues) it never was a problem. Painted them with many coats of high temp. coatings but thet rusted very fast and to be honest I should have just used the stock manifolds.

01-11-2014, 09:54 PM	#10
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,316	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 I put a set on an 8BA in a '36 coupe that also had a '37 steering box. It took a little grinding, but they fit fine and I never had any problems. IIRC, the '37 steering provided a little more room than the stock '36 steering. It was an upgrade to the steering as well.

01-12-2014, 01:00 PM	#13
rheltzel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 368	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 Great photos, flat-v8. I really appreciate it!!!!!!!!

03-18-2014, 04:46 PM	#14
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 MOST definately, put the headers on After you install the engine ! Why torture yourself ? MIKE (mikeburch)

03-18-2014, 08:52 PM	#15
rg130 Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Placerville, CA 95667 Posts: 96	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 I put Fenton Headers on a stock 37 Ford 221 Flathead. No problem with steering box, but had to bend the dip stick tube.

03-19-2014, 12:03 PM	#16
hotcoupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: imperial,mo Posts: 694	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 i put a set of Fentons on my `37 pikem`up, and the headers interfered slightly with the steering box. my solution was to mill .080" off the mounting face of the headers, clears the steering box just fine. tom

03-19-2014, 02:48 PM	#17
Admiral Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Oakland County, Michigan Posts: 562	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 Why don't they just make the headers FIT as advertised? Shimming and grinding is pretty ridiculous to get a brand-new item to work properly. If I was spending 300 bucks on headers they better damn well work right. I briefly considered Fenton as I like the idea of cast-iron manifolds, but all this bullroar turned me off so I went with Red's. The ceramic coating is GORGEOUS -- looks like chrome -- and they couldn't fit better. A+ product.

03-19-2014, 06:48 PM	#18
rheltzel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 368	Re: Fenton Headers on a Stock '35 I'm with you, Admiral. If the fix is to grind the flanges down, why doesn't Fenton just make them that way? I've decided to go with Red's, since everyone says they fit fine and are a great product. My new motor is at Costa Mesa Automotive R & D being built...supposed to be done in about a month.